The uses of energy resources include: transport, electricity generation…

The idea

Energy resources are used for three things, and the specification names them: transport, electricity generation and heating. The mix differs sharply between them. Transport still runs largely on oil products, petrol and diesel, with electricity and hydrogen growing; electricity generation uses a mixture of gas, nuclear, wind, solar, hydroelectricity and bio-fuel; heating in homes is mostly gas, with electricity and heat pumps taking a growing share. Because the uses differ, so do the problems: transport emissions are spread over millions of vehicles, while power station emissions come from a few large sites. Reducing demand matters too, since efficient appliances need a smaller energy input for the same useful output, so less electricity has to be generated.

What earns the marks

• Naming transport, electricity generation or heating as the use in question.
• Matching a resource to that use, such as oil for transport or gas for heating.
• Stating that a more efficient device wastes less energy for the same useful output.
• Linking reduced demand to less electricity generated or a smaller environmental impact.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Answering that efficient devices use less electricity, which is ignored without the wasted energy or demand link.

• Assuming electricity is a resource rather than something generated from other resources.

• Claiming electric vehicles remove emissions entirely, ignoring how the electricity was generated.

• Listing uses without saying which resources actually serve them.

Exam tips

• Answer efficiency questions with waste less energy or need a lower input for the same output, then add the demand consequence.
• Keep the three uses separate in longer answers so each scores its own point.
• Lower energy bills and lower carbon dioxide emissions are both credited, so give one of each where two marks are available.